Warning: Swearing.

Okay, so this is a request from Marie_HoO_PJO, and I've kinda strayed a bit from the actual request but let me know what you think. There's a bit of pan Percy if you squint lol.

If anyone were to ask if Jason was a good wingman, Percy would deny it until his dying breath. He'd never live it down otherwise. Besides, Jason's ego didn't need to get any bigger.

That didn't mean he wasn't happy to have him as his wingman though. The only downside was that the one time Percy really needed his wingman, he was off helping someone else.

Not to mention the fact that Jason was giving Percy's long time crush of eight months what seemed to be a pep talk. Wasn't that just great. Percy had been hyping himself up to ask his crush out for weeks now, just to have to witness said crush flirt with other people.

Percy thought he was ready for this.

Percy so wasn't ready for this.

He watched from the other side of the room as Jason whispered in Leo's ear, Leo giggling at whatever was said.

Percy couldn't do this. Leo would never want him anyway. Leo could have anyone he wanted, he was perfect. Percy... was not perfect. He was just Percy and that was where the problem lay.

Percy decided to go get some fresh air. Besides, he liked the outdoors at night. It was quiet, peaceful.

Breathing in the late night air, Percy contemplated where he went wrong.

How he fucked it all up.

When he became so repulsive that it was obvious to anyone who ever looked at him even once that no one would ever want him.

First there was Grover. He didn't mean to. Grover was the first person to ever like him. He was his best friend. The first person to realise he had feelings too. That he was only human too.

Then there had been Luke. Luke was that cool older guy. Luke had been everything Percy had ever wanted to be. He was cool, loved, talented. He had friends. Percy had always wanted friends. It was the one thing that was always on his Christmas wish list. Friends. Most little kids wanted toys. Sweets maybe. He just wanted a friend. It broke his mom's heart and that just made everything worse. He was a bad son.

Annabeth had just been so stubborn. Had been set on hating him. He was a son of Poseidon, she was a daughter of Athena. They could never be friends, she had said. He had agreed. (Mainly to appease her. He didnt want her to feel stupid or wrong. He knew that feeling and Annabeth didn't deserve it.) And yet he had gone that one step further and developed a crush on her. It was worse when they actually became friends. When he was deemed 'not too bad for a Seaweed Brain'.

Rachel had just been a cute mortal girl he had met on a quest. He thought he'd never see her again anyway. They hadn't really known each other long enough for him to develop a crush. And then they met again in the summer. He'd had to go on a quest with her. Stuck underground in life or death situations tends to bring people closer. And so Percy was doomed to crush on another person way out of his league.

Calypso had been more of a summer fling than anything. That still didn't stop Percy from developing feelings. Again. He had been so close to staying. Calypso had paid attention to him. She had been the only one of his crushes who seemed to reciprocate the stupid feelings he always seemed to get. But he couldn't do that to the others. Couldn't just leave Annabeth (even though she didn't and never would like him back) and the others to fight a war on their own. That wasn't fair to them. There was children involved. Teens who had barely lived their lives.

Nico had been the main reason for Percy to leave the island. To return back to camp. The poor boy's world had shattered because of Percy. Because of Percy's broken promise. Everyone around him seemed to die one way or another and he'd literally lead Bianca to that fate. He should have a sign above his head saying: 'Beware, come closer and die. Feelings may be involved but don't let that stop you. This piece of shit realises he's worth nothing. No easy rejections required because he's already done it for you.'

Percy had been the first person to figure out Nico's parentage. He had tried his hardest to keep it hidden but people had slowly found out somehow. If Percy had stayed, Nico would have been left to be the child of the prophecy. No child should be expected to do something like that so recently after the death of a family member. (Really, no child should be asked to do such a thing anyway. Regardless of whether or not a family member has died recently.)

Percy didn't blame Nico for hating him. He hated himself too. He'd single handedly killed his sister and then basically told him that it didn't matter and that they could be the best of friends. When they'd found Nico in the labyrinth, Percy had been so happy. He didn't care that Nico hated him. He was just so glad to see the boy alive. He'd also convinced himself that it wasn't just about his sister. Nico had obviously found out about Percy's crush on him and was just so disgusted. The boy was from the 30's for gods sake.

Except Nico hadn't known apparently. He'd come out as gay eventually. Percy hadn't even cared that he wasn't the first person to find out. He'd been an idiot and let himself hope Nico might love him back. But he didn't. He didn't. And now he was happy with Will. The charming son of Apollo who was everything Percy wasn't. Percy couldn't blame Nico either. Will was hot. Percy was just glad his brain didn't seem to find Will crush worthy though. He honestly couldn't handle anymore crushes. Anymore unrequited loves.

He had edged on with Jason at the start. Not because he wanted to lead. He just didn't want the others to move on and forget him. He felt like Jason was stealing that away from him. Stealing his chance to feel loved. He had buried that feeling though. They were on a dangerous quest to save the world and they couldn't afford to allow such petty things to happen.

He and Jason had started working together. Had started co-leading the Argo II. He'd started liking Jason. He hadn't fallen in love with him however. Not like the others.

He had gotten over Jason pretty quickly though. Sure the blonde was nice, but he was just a bit too stuck up. (Well that's what Percy told himself repeatedly anyway.) Percy had spent ages going over any flaws he found in the blonde. It had taken him longer than he'd hoped but he had managed in the end. He finally got over someone without too much heartbreak.

And then Leo had made him laugh. A real, genuine laugh that had left him breathless and smiling. He'd been vulnerable. Still healing from his Jason-induced heartbreak. But Percy hadn't cared. He'd done more than throw caution to the wind.  He'd fucking drowned it and beat it with Coach hedges baseball bat. He'd hacked and slashed at it with Riptide until there was no more caution left to throw.

And here he was facing the consequences for such actions.

"Hey, what are you doing out here? The party is indoors aquaman."

That voice brought a smile to his face. He absolutely loved that voice. And there was the bonus of it belonging to Percy's favourite person.

"Aquaman?"

People thought he hated that nickname. He didn't necessarily like it but as long as Leo was the only one calling him it, he didn't mind.

"Hey Leo, and what do you mean the party is inside? You mean to tell me that I was just dancing in the middle of the street when I thought I was up on stage? That I must have looked like an idiot dancing along with no music?"

Percy smiled again as he heard Leo try to muffle a laugh. He loved that laugh, he didn't understand why he'd try to hide it.

"How about we go for a walk? It's nice and peaceful. I'm assuming that's why you're out here?"

"Yeah. It's great. I mean, the silence is beautiful but sometimes..." Percy paused as he tried to figure out a way to explain the feeling. "I mean..." Percy let out a frustrated groan as he couldn't seem to get the words out. He knew what he wanted say, so how come he couldn't? Was he that useless?

"That just because you find it beautiful doesn't mean you want to be alone? That you don't want to be the only one to witness it? To feel it?"

Percy felt his face heat up as Leo voiced the exact thoughts he was unable to say.

"Yeah, that. What's the point in experiencing all of this if I'm the only one to experience it?"

Leo hummed as he turned around and headed down the street, beckoning Percy on to follow.

They'd been walking for hours now, don't ask them how but they definitely weren't getting back to the party any time soon.

They had spent the hours talking about their lives. They opened up to each other properly. Percy had embarrassingly admitted to all of his past crushes.

Leo had been surprised to hear about Percy's many crushes. They were all onesided and ended with a broken hearted Sea Prince and a happy couple - in most cases anyway.

Percy had been half way through explaining how he was doomed to die alone and that he didn't even know why he had bothered to hope that someone might like him back when Leo decided to interrupt him.

"I'd date you."

Percy paused midword and stopped walking.

The way he said it sounded genuine but the smirk on his face and the little voice in the back of Percy's head confused him.

"Erm..."

"What, does wittle Percy not want to go on a date with the Super-sized McShizzle, bad boy supreme, Leo Valdez?"

Percy could feel the blush that rose to his cheeks at the nickname. His face felt like it was on fire. He probably looked like a tomato.

Leo's smirk widened at the blush on Percy's cheeks. The poor boy looked like he was about to die from embarrassment. Leo mentally patted himself on the back for a job well done.

"I'll take that as a yes. That's what you were going to say right?" He paused and the smirk on his face seemed to somehow get bigger. "Assuming you're able to make coherent sentences."

"Argh."

Leo laughed, apparently finding Percy's inability to make coherent sentences hilarious. Well Percy didn't.

Percy made a 'humph' noise and carried on walking, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Aww, come on aquaman. I was only joking. It's cute." Leo said. He was trying to catch up to Percy who had started running now.

"Hey Perce. Wait up. Please."

Percy's beath hitched as he felt an arm snake it's way around his waist, pulling him into the warm body behind him.

They were both panting now. They'd been running for a while and had somehow made it back to Jason's house where the party was. Everyone had gone home by now.

"I was only teasing you. And anyone who doesn't see how amazing you are is stupid."

Percy didn't know what to say. No one had ever said such a thing to him and he honestly felt like crying.

Instead of crying, he slowly turned around in Leo's arms to look him in the eyes, searching for any trace of a lie. He couldn't find any.

It seemed like Leo could tell because he swapped his smirk for a real, genuine smile. Percy might have just fell a little more in love with him.

Percy didn't know how, but the next thing he knew, they were both leaning in for a kiss. Their lips met and Percy might have just died. Leo's lips were warm, and so soft.

They pulled away for air, both panting.

"So, how about that date?"

"Yes. He says yes."

They both turned around to find Jason leaning against his front door looking way too proud of himself.

"Oh I'm sorry, did he ask you?"

Leo laughed, leaning in to whisper in Percy's ear. "Sassy." He nibbled on Percy's ear, making him blush.

"For Hades sake Percy. He's waiting for an answer and you're just stood there looking like a fucking contestant for a tomato growing competition. Just give the poor boy a yes already."

"Jason, shut the fuck up."

Percy turned to look at Leo who was smiling amused.

"Sure."

Leo laughed. "Sure?"

"Yes. It's a definite yes."

"Of course it is. I've already fucking told him that. Bit slow there Perce."

"Don't listen to him aquaman. If I was you I probably would have fainted already being faced with such hot stuff like me."

Percy went to reply but was stopped by Jason's loud cackles coming from behind them.

"Jason, get a grip already."